#HowDoYouPlay?

There’s plenty of ways to play, and this article will highlight a few classic forms, but the art of playfulness proves rather expansive. If you don’t see how you engage in play on this seemingly limited list, don’t worry! We just wanted to kick off some ideas to get the sharing going. 

1. Nature Play– this kind play typically occurs outside and includes natural objects: sticks, plants, rocks, or insects are just a few examples. 

2. Dramatic Play– this is social play where participants take on different characters, costumes, and roles. This play especially helps develop emotions 

3. Word Play– games that involve writing, word association, or make language playful: Bananagrams, Scrabble, Balderdash

4. Board Games– imagine classic games like checkers, chess, and shoots and ladders. These games can build relationships and cooperation.

5. Imagination Play– with this form of play, anything is possible 

6. Art Play– this is a highly creative play that involves self-expression and artistic mediums: painting, water colors, glitter, and canvases, for example

Don’t forget to share how you play with Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative by tagging us on your next playful social media post! You’ll find us on these platforms:

Facebook – @playfulpittsburgh 

Instagram – @playfulpittsburgh

If you’re fond of surveys, and happen to have a moment to spare, please fill out our Google Form where you can tell the Collaborative how you play! We’d love to share your play tips to our subscribers in a newsletter down the road!

How Do You Play? Survey

Staying Playful When You’re Not With People

Play proves an essential part of life for people of all ages. It doesn’t just apply to kids. Sure, kids absolutely benefit from play from the scientific perspective that the act itself helps develop their executive functioning skills, and it does important work when it comes to a skill like self-regulation, but play has a multitude of benefits for adults as well. We’d argue that play is just as advantageous for adults as it is for kids. Check out this TedTalk, where Ted Fischer talks about the importance of play for senior citizens. Although his talk specifically focuses on an older population, there’s plenty of take-aways for young and middle aged adults to garner from his talk.

You might also consider reading this article from The Genius of Play that gives ten helpful tips for remaining playful as an adult. The list is full of helpful hints that will help keep things playful, even if you’re all by yourself. Play is about harnessing the power of connection and building meaningful relationships. It centers around laughing and getting curious about things, people, and spaces around you. The act becomes a practice capable of changing your outlook on life. Give some of these tips a chance, give them a try, and see if you find yourself giggling in greater intervals or singing random songs in line at the grocery store. 

Pittsburgh Summer Play Opportunities

There’s quite a bit going on in Pittsburgh this summer that is really rather difficult to keep track of it all! But fear not, we’ve done some curating of events, and we’ve organized it for you right here in this brief news post. Check out what we found happening around the city, but know that our lists do not claim to be extensive, all encompassing, or absolute in any way shape or form. They’re just to get you started, to get your gears churning, to get you to say, “Hey, that’s where I want to be to beat the heat,” or “That’s the kind of music that speaks to my soul, so that’s where you’re going to find me when the sun sets.” Check out our lists, then tell your friends, your family, your neighbors, and pack a lunch to make it a whole thing to remember.

The summer months can be brutal. Between the humidity, high temperatures, and AC unit petering out on that day it's scheduled to be ninety degrees, there’s no better place to go than a spray park. If you’re into beating the heat wearing your bathing suit, we’ve got a great list of all the spray parks around the city. Playing in the water is a great way to activate your senses as well as your imagination, so we’re big promoters of this type of fun. But, hey– on top of that sporty bathing suit, you’re going to need a pair of thrifty shades. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you to bring along your sunscreen!

Click here to find open Spray Parks in Pittsburgh for playful experiences to beat the heat.

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So you’re into music? You’re into that communal jamming experience? Lucky for you, live music isn’t a thing of our memories anymore. It’s back in full action, blooming like Monet at Phipps, even. There’s loads of free concerts going on around Pittsburgh this season. Here are just a few options we found for you to get you back into the music scene before the leaves start falling from trees.

• Free Concerts in Allegheny County 

• Free Classical/ Jazz Concerts in Pittsburgh  

• Free Concerts in South Park and Hartwood Acres 

Request Play Materials

Is your organization hosting an event later this spring or into the summer that could use a little something extra to make it more playful and unique? Here at Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, we house an array of interactive games and equipment that might just be what you’re looking for to bring an extra layer of fun to the day. We’ve got oversized games like Connect Four, checkers and Yard-zee, we’ve got hula hoops (some of them even light up), and so much more! If you’re interested in checking out our collection of games and interactives, follow the link to Playbox Sign Out Form. We’re sure you’ll stumble upon something that’s sure to bring the fun!

Membership with Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative

Does your organization believe in the power and importance of play for youths and adults alike? Does your organization think there needs to be more space created for people to play? Does your organization want to get connected with other people and organizations who share a similar passion for playfulness? If you internally stated yes to more than one of these rhetorical questions, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative wants you to sign up for membership. The process is quick and straightforward. Simply check out our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and if your organization is interested in signing on, we can send you a DocuSign version of the document. Just pick the tier you’d like to participate within, and just like that, you and your organization become an official member. Feel free to send inquiries or requests to playfulpgh@tryingtogether.org.

There’s multiple tiers to choose from for maximum flexibility. We know that there’s a lot going on within your organization, and we’re all feeling the stretch for capacity. That’s why we’ve designed the MOU to be as inclusive as possible. You’ll notice each tier comes with responsibilities that build off of each other, so feel free to select your membership status based off of what you and your organization have time for. We can’t wait for you to pull up your seat at the table!

Membership with the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative is filled with benefits! You get to connect and network with other organizations working to elevate and promote play and playful opportunities around the Pittsburgh region. We can help elevate your events through our social media and newsletters. There’s the opportunity to collect some sweet swag like t-shirts, fanny packs, and water bottles. And most importantly, we get to work together to help make Pittsburgh a more playful place to live. Check out the MOU for a comprehensive list of benefits.

Ultimate Play Day 2022 Recap

We are thrilled to report that Ultimate Play Day at Liberty Green Park this year was an outstanding success! With over 200 people in attendance, Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, along with other organizations, engaged kids, their families, and the community in playful and interactive activities. The weather was picturesque, and everything went off without a hitch. We would like to extend GIGANTIC thank yous to the organizations who helped make the day full of fun: CitiParks, Remake Learning Days, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, COTRAIC EHS & Greater Hazelwood Family Center, Zero Fossil, Venture Outdoors, Trying Together, Temple Ohav Shalom Center for Early Learning, Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library & Playspace, and SLB Radio. Thank you so much for joining us on our day of play, and if you couldn’t join us this year, we’re looking forward to having even more playful vendors and activities next year! Stay tuned. 

Feel free to check out the video of Ultimate Play Day to either get a quick visual review or to relive the magic. Don’t forget to share with your friends. If you want to be kept up-to-date on events, emails, and all things play, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!